Official launch of Kahnawake 300th Anniversary celebrations

05/25/2016

Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center (KOR), Kahnawà:ke Tourism and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke are pleased to invite the community to the official launch of the campaign to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Kahnawà:ke’s move to its current location.

The unveiling of a permanent display panel will be held tomorrow (Thursday, May 26) at 9am at Kahnawà:ke Survival School Survival School to commemorate the previous location of the village before the final move circa 1716.  This event will be first of several to take place throughout the summer months. The list of events and projects will be announced and explained at this time.    

“While impressive enough for a village to celebrate such a sustained and enduring presence, what must be noted is that Kahnawà:ke was actually the final relocation of settlement that was established in 1667. Moreover, the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke have long held that the journey from the Mohawk Valley in present-day New York State to the St. Lawrence River Valley was actually a return to the northern frontier of their ancestral lands. This means that the past 300 years has been a mere chapter in a much longer story. Kahnawà:ke is a narrative of resilience. This is what we are acknowledging and celebrating in 2016…” reads the foreword of a pamphlet that KOR will be releasing in the coming weeks giving historical background and context on the 5 movements.

“The grand unveiling of this commemorative panel will increase the general public’s knowledge of Kahnawà:ke’s rich history, the 300th-year celebrations in 2016, and enhance community pride,” added Kahnawà:ke Tourism’s Kimberly Cross. “We’re certainly excited about the upcoming events and hope that the community shares that enthusiasm!”